Mesa man accused in theft of Blu-ray players from Walmart

A Mesa man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of attempting to sell 45 electronics items stolen from Walmart stores to pawn shops, according to Mesa police.

Brian Ellsworth, 27, reportedly sold several unopened Blu-ray players to pawn shops in Mesa, police said. Through running a "pawn history" on Ellsworth, Mesa police discovered he also had also reportedly sold Blu-ray players to pawnshops in Tempe, Phoenix and Chandler between Aug. 14 and Aug. 29, according to a court document.Mesa police mugshots, October 2012

An investigation found that the electronics he pawned had come from Walmart stores in Mesa, Tempe and Phoenix, according to police. Police said Ellsworth would take the stolen merchandise to pawn shops where he would sell them within the hour of allegedly stealing them, according to the court document.

Walmart Asset Protection officers found video of Ellsworth entering various Walmart stores and taking Blu-ray players and other electronics without paying for them, according to police.

Ellsworth was arrested on suspicion of trafficking stolen property in the first degree and organized retail theft at his home in the 1700 block of East Evergreen, according to police.